Food mixers



Oct. 16, 1956 Filed March 10, 1954 J- E. VANCE ET AL FOOD 'MIXERS- 2 Sheets-Shem 1 Oct. 16, 1956 J. E. VANCE ETAL FOOD MixERs Filed March 1'0, 1954 2 Sheets-Shem 2 Fly. 3

Fig. 4

United States Fatent 2,766,971 Patented Oct. 16, 1 956 ice FOOD MDERS John E. Vance and Melvin H. Ripple, Canton, 'flhio, as-

signors to The Heav er (Iompany,-North Canton, @hio, a corporation of (Bhio Application March '10, 1954, Serial No. 415,376

6 Claims. ci. 259 -51 The present invention relates to food mixers and more particularly to a double-receptacle type of food mixer in which the inner receptacle is rotatably mounted within an outer receptacle which may be used-as a double boiler when heat is necessary during the mixing operation or as a receptacle for ice when it is necessary to chill the contents of the inner bowl during the mixing operation.

The present application is an improvement over an application by John E. Vance, Serial No. 249,712, filed October 4, 1951, Patent No. 2,707,622, dated May 3, 1955. The Vance application referred to discloses and claims a double boiler or pan arrangement in which a portable mixer unit is removably mounted on the handle of the outer pan and the inner pan or bowl is rotatably mounted within the outer pan or bowl.

The present invention relates to an improved bearing arrangement by which the inner bowl or pan-is rotatably mounted 'within'the outer bowl or pan, in 'which the bearing for the inner bowl orpan' does not come in con tact with the contents of either bowl or pan.

Specifically, according to the present invention, an annular bearing structure may rest on the upper edge of the outer bowl or pan, which may be constructed in the manner of an ordinary sauce pan, and in which the annular bearing structure engages an outwardly extending flange formed on the upper rim of the inner bowl or pan.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the mixer of the present invention with the two receptacles shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a segmental sectional view through the rims I of the receptacles of Fig. l and the bearing showing how the inner pan is rotatably mounted on the rim of the outer pan;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the two receptacles showing a modified form of bearing arrangement; and

Fig. 4 shows how the bearing arrangement of Fig. 3 may be used as a turntable independently of the two receptacles.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 represents the outer bowl, pan or receptacle and the reference number 11 the inner one. The outer receptacle 10 is provided with an insulated handle 12 by which the two receptacles may be carried about. The handle 12 is provided with a socket 13 for receiving a supporting leg 14 attached to a portable power mixer generally indicated by the reference numeral 15.

The power mixer unit 15 includes a carrying handle 16 and a casing 17 housing a motor and gearing for driving the mixers 18 as is well known in the art. The casing 17 is formed with a recess 19 in one end in which the support 14 is pivoted as at 20. The support 14 is adapted to be folded into the recess 19 and is held in either extended or folded position by a spring detent 21 which engages notches 22 and 23, respectively, to hold the support 14 in either its extended or collapsed position.

receptacle or pan 4%? and an inner bowl or pan 41.

2 The motor of the mixer unit 15 is supplied with electric current from any suitable outlet by an electric cord24 and a suitable switch may be; provided for energizing the motor.

The portable mixer unit 15 may be independently supported on its heel by-the rear end of the handle 16and the rear end of the casing 17.

The outer pan or receptacle 10 is provided with a curved annular rim 3% which-may be formed in theusual mannerof forming rims on sauce pans. The inner bowl or pan is provided with a comparatively wide-downwardly facing annular groove or recess '31 of substantially the same diameter as the'rim'30 of the pan 10 for removably receiving a bearing element. generally indicated by the reference numeral 32.

The bearing element 32 comprises an annular inverted U-shaped ball race 33 containing a'plurality of trapped ball bearings 34 distributed entirely around the interior of the race 32, the race 32 having an opening .36 smaller than the balls 34 whereby the latter may contact with theupper circular edge 37 'of 'therim 39 of the outer receptacle. The annular race 32 is detachably positioned within the annular recess 31 of the inner receptacle 11 whereby it may be easily-removed for cleaning purposes.

The modification of Figs. 3 and 4 comprises an outer The pan 4% is provided with an annular rolled edge 42 commonly formed on the rims of many cookihgutensils. The detachable, removable bearing unit 43 is provided with an annular shoulder'44 formed to engage therim 42 of the outer receptacle l0 and'with a downwardly extending annular ring 45. The shoulder 44 and annular ring 45 provide a support" for the bearing unit 43 on the receptacle d as shown in Fig. 3.

Above the shoulder 44 the annular ring 45 is formed with a bearing race 46 for trappingan annular ring of ball bearings 47 'between' the race 46 and a complementary race 48, the race 48 being engaged with the outwardly extending rim 49 of the inner receptacle 41 as will be explained.

The arrangement of the races 46 and 48 is such that the ball bearings 47 are trapped between the two races.

The bearing elements 43 of Fig. 3 is also adapted to be used as a turntable for general culinary uses, as shown in Fig. 4, where a pie pan 5! is supported on the inner race 48 and the rim 45 supports the turntable 43 on any fiat supporting surface.

In the modification of Fig. 3, the outer receptacle 40 may be provided with a carrying handle, as in the modification of Fig. 1, upon which the mixer unit 15 may be mounted as shown in Fig. 1.

Operation If it is desired to heat the material being mixed during the mixing operation, water is placed in the outer receptacle 10 or 46 and heat applied in any suitable manner during the mixing operation.

In either modification, if it is desired to cool the material being mixed, crushed ice or crushed ice and water is placed in the outer receptacle.

In the modification of Fig. 1, after the water or ice is placed in the outer receptacle Iii, the material to be mixed is placed in the inner receptacle 11 or it may be poured into the receptacle 11 after the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. l.

In either case, the bearing assembly 32 is placed on top of the rim 36 of the outer receptacle 1%) with the balls 34 in engagement with the upper surface of the rim 39. The inner receptacle 11 is then placed inside the outer receptacle 10 with the inverted U-shaped annular flange 31 engaging over the race 33 of the annular bearing 32.

I then be energized so that the mixers 18 are rotated in the usual manner. 7

The mixers 18 may be so related to the 'walls of the V receptacle 11 that the reaction between the mixers '18 and the material being mixed will automatically rotate the inner bowl 11 within the outer bowl 10 or the inner bowl 11 may be manually rotated within the outer bowl 10 during the mixing operation. a

The operation of the modification of Fig. 3 is substan-;

tially the same as that of Fig. 1 except that the removable" bearing ring 43 may be .used independentlyof the-receptacle as a turntable of generalutility, for example for use in applying the crusts to pics 50, as shown in Fig. 4.

In either modification, the mixer may beused in the.

mixer without either heatingor chilling and in which the.

inner bowl is rotatably mounted on the outer bowl by an annular bearing ring removably mounted on the rim of the outer bowl and rotatably engaging the flange on the inner bowl; 7

While we have shown and described but two embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that those embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. We do not wish to be limited to the specific structures shown and described but wish to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

We claim: a

1. A portable mixer of the type having an inner bowl or receptacle rotatably mounted within an outer bowl or receptacle, that improvement which comprises a detachable self-contained annular bearing ring resting on and detachable from the rim of the outer bowl or receptacle and detachably engaging an annular flange on the upper V edge of the inner bowl or receptacle to rotatably support the inner bowl or receptacle within the outer bowl or receptacle.

2. In a food mixer according toclaim 1 in which said annular bearing ring includes a ball bearing race detachably engaging and rotatable with the outwardly extending flange of the inner bowl or receptacle. 1 Y

3. In a food mixer according to claim 2 including ball bearings in said race which directly engage and roll upon the annular rim of said outer bowl or receptacle.

4. In a food mixer according to claim 2 including a second ball bearing race detachably mounted on the annular rim of said outer bowl or receptacle, and ball bearings trapped between said races whereby said inner '20 bowl or receptacle is rotatably mounted on the annular rim of said outer-bowler receptacle. 1 V

5. In a food mixer according to claim 4 wherein said second ball bearing race includes a downwardly extending annular flange to fit interiorly of the upper annular rim of said outer bowl or receptacle.

6. In a food mixer according to claim Sin which said 7 general utility.

to form a support therefor whereby said race may be supported on a fiat support and thus form a turntable of References Cited in the'file of this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,648 Bouquin Feb. 25, 1919 2,237,859 Bille, Apr. 8, .1941

V FOREIGN PATENTS 524,346 7 Germany m May 6, 1931 

